Butted vs plain spokes for wheel rebuild

There seems to be a plethora of info on the web concerning bicycle wheels and butted spokes but not for motorcycles. Is there a reason to use (or not) butted spokes vs plain straight spokes on stainless rims?

Butted spokes are lighter and stronger than a traditional straight gauge spoke. When the metal is manipulated (stretched) it work hardens and becomes stiffer. Since there is less in the center of the spoke it is lighter as well. On a bicycle it can make a world of difference (we used to use double butted spokes as well), but on a motorcycle I am not sure you are even going to be able to tell. One thing to note is that once a spoke is butted it is not as easy to true as a single gauge spoke, since the metal is stiffer. So on one hand you have the lighter wheel set with a butted spoke, but on the other hand if you need to true it, or put it in round, a single gauge spoke is going to do better.

I used to build bicycle wheels for professional mountain and road bike teams. If you have any other questions please feel free to ask.

powerdoc said:

There seems to be a plethora of info on the web concerning bicycle wheels and butted spokes but not for motorcycles. Is there a reason to use (or not) butted spokes vs plain straight spokes on stainless rims?

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Where can you buy butted spokes for use on motorcycles?

If butted spokes are same thing as necked down ones, thick at hub narrow to rim then Buchannan's has them as do other wheel vendors. I installed them with lot of tedious truing on Ms Peel - ugh. Just a few oz difference sitting still but many lbs at speed but likely only a racer could detect the effect. On THE Gravel I can detect the lighter wheel spins out easier.

That is EXACTLY what it is. The spokes are made that way to save weight. I may just have to try my hand at this. "It's already broken, right?" lol

They are a treat to handle and give a last bit of polish too. No different than fat spokes to lace as just as fat at the hub end. Only issue - as applies to any spoke lacing, that the rim angles are drilled for that hub. Don't expect an Al rim for front disc form Buchannans to fit easy, mine gave bent stressed spokes and took pestering a bunch of experts to be relieved its and no issue on the amount mine were. Do not install Al nipples as too weak but for show queens. Tighten as much as possible all around.